On December 27, 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order 13562 establishing the Internship Program and the Recent Graduates Program, and revising and reinvigorating the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program. These two new programs, along with the PMF Program, collectively form what the President called the Pathways Programs.

To be eligible for the Pathways Intern Program, the student must be accepted for enrollment or be enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying accredited educational institution on a full or half-time basis.